Real Madrid 0-3 Barcelona: Luis Suarez scores cheeky Panenka to seal clasico Copa del Rey win

Barca, competition winners for the past four seasons, were held 1-1 in the first leg at the Nou Camp and were second best for large periods in the return before running out convincing 4-1 aggregate winners

Lionel Messi's career in 60 seconds

Luis Suarez scored twice as Barcelona maintained their stranglehold on the Copa del Rey with a 3-0 win at Real Madrid in the second leg of their semi-final.

Barca, competition winners for the past four seasons, were held 1-1 in the first leg at the Nou Camp and were second best for large periods in the return before running out convincing 4-1 aggregate winners.

Suarez struck against the run of play early in the second half and after Raphael Varane’s own goal left Real a mountain to climb, the Uruguay striker converted a penalty, Panenka-style, to silence the Bernabeu.

Real banished memories of their 5-1 La Liga defeat to Barca in September by shading the first leg earlier this month, but the visitors were clinical in the Spanish capital to seal a sixth successive final appearance.

The home side were aggrieved not to have been awarded a penalty by the video assistant referee in the 14th minute.

Vinicius Junior’s tumble in the penalty area after Nelson Semedo’s challenge was referred back to VAR by match official Sanchez Martinez, who had initially appeared unmoved, but play continued.

Real’s best early efforts in a frenetic opening came through Vinicius Junior, who fired over the crossbar and had another shot saved by Marc-Andre Ter Stegen.

Vinicius’ pace was causing the visitors problems. The Brazilian set up Karim Benzema, whose shot was comfortably saved by Ter Stegen, and then fired just over after another swift Real counter.

Barca had their moments in a goalless first half without creating a clear-cut chance, but Real, clearly intent on not relying on their away goal advantage, shaded it as the pace of an end-to-end encounter was unrelenting.

Benzema headed Toni Kroos’s free-kick narrowly over soon after the restart and at the other end Gerard Pique was off target with a similar effort from Lionel Messi’s set piece.

Barca then stunned the Bernabeu by snatching the lead in the 50th minute.

Luis Suarez in action at the Bernabeu (AFP/Getty Images)

Suarez appeared well covered by Sergio Ramos when Ousmane Dembele’s cut back from the left reached him inside the area, but he shimmied to create space and side-footed home an emphatic finish.

The Uruguay striker maintained his impressive record at the Bernabeu by scoring his 17th goal in 18 visits.

There was no let-up. Barca were unlucky not to have been awarded a penalty when Ivan Rakitic appeared to be fouled by Ramos, while Real were denied an equaliser by Ter Stegen’s brilliance as he kept out Sergio Reguilon’s header.

Vinicius went close again for the home side when his run carried him into the area, but his deflected shot curled agonisingly wide.

Barca, outplayed for long periods, then dealt Real a hammer blow with their second goal on the night.

Dembele again was the provider as his precision pass into the area from the right was turned into his own net by the sliding Varane, who was under pressure from Suarez.

Barca sealed their place in the final when Suarez was fouled by Casemiro on the left edge of the box and then dinked home his spot-kick straight down the middle.

PA

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[27 February 2019 20:40 · Kieran Jackson]

36 minutes: Real Madrid 0-0 Barcelona

Bang on cue, another huge change for Vinicius and Real!

After Pique is dispossessed out of position, Vinicius is played through but a heavy touch allows Lenglet to block, but the 18-year-old squares a chipped pass to Benzema, who scuffs his left-footed shot straight at ter Stegen with the goal gaping. 

Will these wasted chances come back to haunt Real?

[27 February 2019 20:42 · Kieran Jackson]

38 minutes: Real Madrid 0-0 Barcelona

Would you believe it?! It's Vinicius again with a huge opportunity!

Reguilon crosses from the left to find the Brazilian in the box, but he strikes over from eight yards out. 

In his defence, this time round the ball was slightly behind him. Still, must do better. 

[27 February 2019 20:44 · Kieran Jackson]

41 minutes: Real Madrid 0-0 Barcelona

It's all Real at the moment. 

The front three linking up perfectly again, but Vinicius' cross in the box is blocked. 

[27 February 2019 20:46 · Kieran Jackson]

42 minutes: Real Madrid 0-0 Barcelona

There must have been three fouls on Lionel Messi there!

A quick counter-attack by the visitors is thwarted by Kroos and Reguilon combined, with cynical trips on the Argentinian. 

Amazingly, no booking though. 

[27 February 2019 20:48 · Kieran Jackson]

45 minutes: Real Madrid 0-0 Barcelona

A late foul on Lucas Vazquez by Ivan Rakitic in the centre of the park halts a Real attack... how the Croat has avoided a booking in this first-half I don't know. 

Vazquez is still down here, and is receiving treatment. 

[27 February 2019 20:48 · Kieran Jackson]

45 minutes: Real Madrid 0-0 Barcelona

One minute of added time at the end of the first-half. 

[27 February 2019 20:52 · Kieran Jackson]

HALF-TIME: Real Madrid 0-0 Barcelona (1-1 agg.)

Real have been the better side, but it's goalless at the break.

Vinicius Jr. has been guilty of squandering clear chances, and Benzema's weak shot was straight at ter Stegen 

By and large, Barca, and Messi, have been quiet in attack, but have offered glimpses... and it only takes one moment. 

Still, should the score remain as it is, Real would go through to the final courtesy of their away goal three weeks ago at the Camp Nou. 

[27 February 2019 21:02 · Kieran Jackson]

This is an interesting story about former Barcelona president Sandro Rosell's release from jail.

No word as of yet if he's in the crowd at the Bernabeu this evening.  

[27 February 2019 21:04 · Kieran Jackson]

Many of you may have noticed a notable absentee from the Real Madrid squad.

Isco, who has been out of favour under Santiago Solari, did not make the squad of 18. 

[27 February 2019 21:05 · Kieran Jackson]

The players are back out - second-half about to get underway!